Is it Worth Getting a Portable Power Station

Whether getting a Portable Power Station is worth it or not depends on a number of things. For example, what do you need it for? Where will you be using it? Is cost a factor? and so on. If you have cheap reliable energy and don’t need a back-up then maybe you don’t need one. But on the other hand, cheap energy is perhaps a thing of the past and you never know when you will need a back-up in case of an emergency. But if you are off-grid or want a simple to set up solar system then a Portable Power Station could be well worth looking at. Also, they are perfect if you need a mobile energy source.

We will look at the following factors:

• How long do they last?
• What can you run on a Portable Power Station?
• Cost?
• Advantages and disadvantages of Portable Power Stations?

How long do Portable Power Stations last?

The life cycle of a Portable Power Station depends on a number of factors: The manufacturer, how you are using it, how you are looking after it. Most products will need to be used and charged on a semi-regular basis or they will not work well in the long run. Most manufacturers will tell you how to maintain your Portable Power Station so it runs optimally and lasts as long as possible.

Let’s look at some examples (according to the manufacturer’s websites):

1. Jackery. Their products should charge to 100% for up to 3 years. Then they will charge to 80% and slowly decline from there.
2. Ecoflow. For example, their River 2 model has 10 years of use and has a 5 year warranty.
3. Anker. 500 complete charges. Then performance will be reduced.

What can you run on a Portable Power Station?

A good way to check what you can run on your Portable Power Station is to look at the Watt Hours (wh). Basically, this is a measure of how long something can be powered for. For example, if your Portable Power Station has 100wh and your computer uses 100 watts, then it can be powered for an hour. So, when choosing your Portable Power Station, think about what you may want to power with it and for how long. For example, if you have a 50w lap top and want to use it for 5 hours then you will at least need a 250wh Portable Power Station. Here are some more examples of power usage (check with manufacturer for detailed estimates).

1. Laptop. Between 50 and 100 watts in an hour. Therefore, if we take the higher (100w) example, then a 500wh Portable Power Station should power it for around 5 hours.
2. Power Drill. Between 500 and 1000 watts in an hour. So, for the higher (1000w) example, a drill should be powered for an hour (of continuous use) using a 1000wh Portable Power Station.

Are Portable Power Stations worth the money?

How much do they cost?

Portable Power Stations vary greatly in price, but in general the more power they store, the more expensive they are. I’ve noticed that as a rough guide £1=1wh. So, a 250wh machine will roughly cost £250 and a 500wh machine will roughly cost £500. This is a rough guide, for up-to-date prices please check our comparison table.

How much do they cost to charge up?

The three main ways to charge are:

• From the mains electricity. Of course you will have to pay your standard charge that you pay for electricity.
• From your car. This should charge from your car battery and shouldn’t cost much as you are powering your car anyway.
• From solar panels. You will need to buy these separately, but if you get them from the same manufacturer as your Portable Power Station then they should be really simple to use. They are usually a ‘plug and play’ situation. Once you have paid for your solar panels then the power is essentially free.

Here’s some examples of the cost of solar panels (These are just examples. Prices may change):

1. Jackery

• 100w Solar Panel. £272.99
• 200w Solar Panel. £629.00

1. Ecoflow

• 110w Solar Panel. £249.00
• 220w Solar Panel. £449.00

1. Anker

• 100w Solar Panel. £329.99
• 200w Solar Panel. £549.00

What are the advantages/disadvantages of a Portable Power Station?

Advantages:

1. Mobile. You can use them almost anywhere.
2. Easy to charge. You can charge it from the mains, your car or from solar panels if you buy them.
3. Free energy. If you purchase solar panels, you can effectively get renewable and free energy.
4. Quiet and clean. Unlike most generators, Portable Power Stations are quiet and clean. You don’t have to add fuel etc, but you will need to keep them charged up.

Disadvantages:

1. The up-front cost may be quite high. Though this could pay off in the long run.
2. You need to maintain them by charging them occasionally even if not using.
3. They can be quite heavy depending on how much power they store.
4. You need to be mindful of the power you are using. They only store power, not generate it. However, if you are using solar panels then they should be continuously topped up (weather dependent).

So, in conclusion it is definitely worth getting a Portable Power Station if you need a mobile store of energy. Also, if you get a solar panel, it is totally worth it as you will get renewable energy.

Discover the perfect Portable Power Station for you with our comparison table.